Apparatus for expanding metal corner beads



I April 12, 1927.

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F iled June 14.1924 12 Sheets-Sheet 11' A ril 1 1927. p ,E. CURTIS APPARATUS FOR EXPANDING METAL CORNER BEADS Filed June 14. 1924 Fig. 1 is a similar view of the rear end ing the blank-expanded previous to being Patented A r. 12,1927. I g UNI-TED STATESPATENTOFFICE} LEWIS E. CURTIS, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,'

TO A. C. PAUL, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, AND GEORGE A. CHRITT'ON', OI RIVER FOREST, ILLINOIS, TRUSTEES. i

APPARATUS FOR EXPANDING METAL CORNER BEADS. 5

Application filed-June 14, 1924. Serial No. 720,099.

This invention relates to machines for previously to expanding the same; 55 expanding slitted sheet metal blanks, par- Fig. 19 is anenlarged view of the clam ticularly such as are bent into angle form ing and expanding mechanism showing the for use as corner beads. center bead and side gripping mechanism 5 The invention is tully described in the in the gripping position previous to expand following specification and shown in the ing but with no blank in the machine; 60 accompanying drawings in which:.. -Fig. 20 is an enlarged view of -the same Figure l'is a side elevation of the front showmg a blank held therein; end of the machine; Fig. 21 is a'view similar to Fig. 20 showof the same; released; I I

Fig. 1 shows a sectional view of the points Fig. 22 is a similar view showing the e'xof contact of the link and the bell crank; pander arms separated still more with the Fig.2 is a partial vertical section on the side -grippers released; line 2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 23 is a similar viewshowing the ex- Fig. 3 is a. partial horizontal section on the pander arms in full open position, the head 7 line 3 of Fig. 1 showing the main clutch and gripperhaving fully opened, thereby dropmeans for tripping; L ping the expanded blank;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section on the line Fig. 24 is a plan view, of the rear end of P 4 of Fig. 3 showing the clutch disengaged; the machine showing the-trip mechanism Fig. 5 is a plan view ofthe same showing which is operated .by the incoming blank; the clutch in engagement at the beginning Fig. 25 is a side elevation of the same; of the operating cycle; Fig. 26 is a front elevation of the cam Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the clutch for operating the: expander arms; 25 detent; Fig. 27 is a plan view of the blank follow- Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the bar for ing the slitting operation; a operating the detent; Fig. 28 is an end elevation of the com- Fig. 8 is an enlarged transverse view of pleted blank; the up er part of the machine on the line Fig. 29 is a side elevation of the same; :10 8 of Fig.1, showing the mechanism for op- Fig. 30 is an end elevation of the exerating the expander arms; panded corner bead; and V Fig. 9 is a partial plan view onthe line Fig. 31 is a side elevation of the same. 9-9 of Fig. 8; b V This machine is intended primarily for I Fig. 10 1s a longitudinal vertical section expanding slitted sheet metal corner bead's' 35 on the line 10 of'Flg. 9; of the type shown and described in my Fi 11 is a vertical transverse section on pending application Serial No. 676,733, filed 90 the line 11 of Fig.1 showing .the cam for November 24, 1923, and for carryingout operating the bead gripping mechanism .the process'of expanding described therein. Fi 12 is a horizontal section on the line This corner bead A as shown in Figs .,28 0 12 0 Fig. 11; and 29 is made by slitting the blankon Fig. 13 is a vertical section on the line both sides of the center as shown in Fig. 27,

13 of Fig. 1 showing the cam for operating thus forming two herrlng bone-sections with the side gripping mechanism; a plain central portion which when the blank Fig. 14 is a horizontal section on the line is bent along a longitudinal line forms the 14 of Fig. 13; neck A and the bead A Marginal ribs 15 of Fig. l-similar to Fig. 13 but. showing The embodiment illustrated comprises a a cam for operating the side gripping device machine having a series of vertical frames on the opposite side of the machine; 0 32 which are .all substantially alike and r 56 Figs. 16 and 17 are sections on the lines which are secured together by means of side 16 and 17 respectively of Fig. 15; members 33, 34, etc., the frames 33- resting Fi 18 is a transverse vertical section on upon a suitable base 35. the line 18 of Fig. 1 showing the mechanism ';Two expander-shafts 36 and 37 extend feeding the slitted blank into'.the machine throughout the length ofthe machineand Fig. 15 is a vertical section on the'line are likewise formed in the edges of the. sheet.

are journalled in suitable bearings as shown in Fig. 8. A rocker arm is keyed to the shaft 37 and has a hnk 39 pivot ally connecting theouter end of the rocker arm with .the outer end of the follower arm 40,the

latter being pivotally mounted on-a pin 41 earned by the frame :32. -The follower arm 40 has a roller 42 journalled therein which so that the shafts 36 and 37 are simultaneously oscillated in opposite. directions.

Referring now to Fig. 18 a series of expander arms 47 and 48 are keyed'to the shafts 36 and 37 respectively, and to these are bolted bars 49 and 50 which extend substantially throughout the length of the machine.

Shafts 51 and 52 are journalled in the expander arms 47 and 48 respectively, these shafts likewise run substantially the length of the machine. The shaft 51' has keyed thereon a lever 55'} which is pivotally connected to the link 54, the opposite end of the link being pivotally connected to the follower arm 55. This arm carries at its outer end a roller 56 which is held upon the face of the cam 57 by means of a spring 58.

This cam is adjustably connected to the cam shaft 44.

I11-Fig. 13 is shown a similar cam 59 on the shaft 44 which is similarly connected to thefshaft 52.

Referring now to Figs. 20 and 22, the shafts 51 and 52 carrycams 6t) and 6t which are keyed thereto and which bear upon levers 62 and 63 which are pivot-ally mounted at 64 and 65 on the expander arms 47 and 48.

Gripping aws 66 and 67 are carried by .the levers 62 and 63, which are the same length as the notched guides 68 and 69 forming a part of the longitudinal bars 49 and 50. Springs 66 and 67 normally hold these gripping jaws open. The longitudinal extending notches 70 and 71 therein are so placed that when the expander arms are in the closed position as shown in Figs. 18 and 20, the previously slitted blank A may be fed horizontally through the machine as will later be described along the top of the notched guides, the angular blank riding upon the upper edges of the rollers 72 which are journalled upon pins 72 32 and carries a series of cams 76 which operate between levers 77 and 78 which are pivotally mounted at 79 on the frame members 32 and are held against the cam 76 by p in the longi: tudinal bars 49. A longitudinal shaft 7 5 is 'journalled at the top of the several frames a spring 80. Clamping jaws 81 and 82 are provided on" the lower edges of these levers which are adapted to grip the neck portion A of the blank'A, a space 83 being provided between the clamping jaws 81 and S2 for the head A of the blank, so that the head will be retained between the jaws Si and 82 which extend substantially throughout the length of the expanding machine.

The shalt'ifi is turned by means of a lever 84 which is pivotally connected at. one endby a link 85, the opposite end of the link being connected to a follower arm 86 which is pivotally connected at87 and has a roller 88 journalled to turn thereon. This roller rolls upon the face of the can) 89 which is adj ustably mounted upon the cam shaft 44.

l romY-the foregoing it will be apparent; that when a blank A of the type previously described is fed to the machine by mechanism. which will later be described, the

gripping jaws 66, 67, 81 and 82 being open,

the cam shaft 44 revolves and causes the cam 89 to lift the follower arm 86 against the action of the spring86,thereby turning the shaft. and the cam 76, spreading the lovers 77 and 78 and clamping the jaws 81 and 82 about the necked-in portion A of the blank beneath the bead A At the same time the cams 57 and 59eause the shafts 51 and 52 to beturned to the position shown in Fig.

20, thereby similarly clamping the marginal ribs A of the blank between the gripping jaws 66 and 67 and the notches 70 and 71.

As the cam shaft 44 continues to revolve, the cam 43 raises the follower arm 40, there by rocking the shafts 36 and 37 and swinging the expander arms 47 and 48 outwardly as shown in Fig. 21. This movement causes the blank to be expanded and to assume the form shown in Figs. 30 and 31.

1 lVhen the parts have reached the position shown in Fig. 21, the high pointsrof the cams 57 and 59 pass quickly from beneath the rollers thereby permitting the shafts 51 and 52 tomove back to open position, thus raising the gripping jaws 66 and 67. During this time the expander arms 47 and 48 continue their outward movement as shown in Fig. 22. 'lhismovement is continued until a position of Fig. 23 is reached Wherein the expander arms are separated sufliciently to permit the now expanded corner head to drop between them as shown in Fig. 23. This is accomplished by the move ment of the shaft 7 5 which is turned by the cam 59 as the latter turns, as shown in Fi 11.

The mechanism for feeding the blank to the machine consists of a series of shafts 90 and 91, as shown in Figs. 1 and 1, all being driven continuously in the same direction by means of sprockets 92 and 93, the shaft 90 being driven by a chain 94 and sprocket 95, the latter being keyed on a shaft 96 is. driven; by a sprocket-97 and chain 98 from a source of power not shown.

Fig. 18, 'the shaft 91 is Referring now tojournalled within a sleeve 99 and carries a passes through a link 119 to the lever .120 which is fulcrumed the blank will cause the latter through the machine on the rollers 7 2; The sleeve 99 is pivotally 101 as shown'in Fig.

102 as shown in by a spring .bell-crank'116-by means of a link grooved sheave 100, the groove being adapted to rest upon the bead of the blank so that the friction created between thesheave and. to roll mounted on trunnions 18, so that the weight of the sleeve, shaft and sheave rests upon the bead of the blank..

As the blank nears the end of the grip-"- ping jaws,;the bead encounters a trip finger Fig. 18, which is mounted on a shaft 103 which is journalled in the main frame. A lever 104 is secured to the outer end of this'shaft and this is pivotall connected to a link 105 (Fig. 1) whic series of rollers 106 and has a stop 107 at its forward end, the-stop being normally held against the bracket 108 by a spring 109. This link has a shouldered head 110.(Fig. 1 which is adapted'to ride'up over a ledge 111 against the action of the s ring 112 as the link is drawn back by t e spring 109. A bell-crank 113 carries the ledge 111' and is 'pivotally mounted at 114 on.

the forward frame 32. The other arm of the bell-crank113; is normally drawn down 115 and is connected to a secon 117. The second bell-crank is fulcrumed at 118, the

forward arm being connected by means of a at 121'as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and-3. The outer end o'f the lever 120is tapered as shown at 120" (Fig.7 and is adapted to slide into a tapered notch 122 in .a detent 123. This detentis-slidably mounted in 'a c lindrical member s aft 125 and normally pressed outward by shaft 125 and has a In -means of a spring 126.

is. released.

' It will'be understood ,from the foregoing P that when the blank against the action of the sprin driven gear 127*is journalled upon the drive 128 adapted to being encountered. by the etent when the latter is it will encounter the trip finger 102 near the far" end of the machine,-thus movingithe trip finger, the lever 109. This linkthenactigig through thelbe 1-cranks 113 and 116, raises the outer endof the lever 120 thereby releas1ngthe detent 123. The sprin 126 then forces; the detent into the 'path'of the'lug 128 thereby causing the gear 127 to turn the block 124. At the same time the link 105 in drawing forward the bell crank 113 slips off the ledge 111' and the spring 115 immediately returns the tapered point of the lever 120 to its normal position 124 keyed on the drive' A continuously fed into the machine 104. and the link' 105 that as the latter revolves the tapered point of the lever will encounter the tapered notch 122 of the detent 123 thereby forcing the latter to the position shown in Fig. 4 and disconnecting the driving block from the drivlng gear 127. Thus only one revolution of thecam shaft permitted upon a single actuation of the trip finger 102.

A belt 129 lies beneath the blank when in gripped position and passes around a pulley- 130 on the shaft 96 series of'rollers 131 whic support the upper strand of the journalled on the frame members 32 as shown in Figs. 1 and 1. This belt then passes down at the rear end of the machine over the ulley 132 and under the pulley 133 and t ence back over a series ofpulleys 134... When the expanded blank is dropped as shown in Fig. 23, itfalls upon this belt and is carried out at the rear of the machine, where it is caught-by an attendant.

- During this timethe cams have returned a d thence over a belt, these rollers being the parts controlled thereby as shown in Fig. 18, wherein the expanding arms 47 and 48 are moved to their innermost position,

it of the grooved sheaves 100. i This blank continues to move forward until it encounters raised thereby releasing the detent 123 and causing the cam shaft 44 to make one complete revolution when it is again brought to rest as' has been previously described;

Duringthe time the blank is held by the. gripping jaws the trip finger 102 is held in the retracted position wherein the forward end 110 ofqthe link is out of engagement with the bell-crank 113. As soon, however, as the expanded; blank is released by the link 105 to its normal position as shown in Figs. 1 and 1 and on its return movement the end is moved ,over the ledge 111 against the action of thespring 112.-

gripping jaws, the spring 109 returns the Fig. 26 shows the expander cam 43 and on v this is superimposed a diagram of operation I igs. 15, 16 and 17 I have which projects through an opening 57. in the collar and screws 57 inthe collar permit of adjustment of the camwith respect to the cam shaft 44.

Fsting these movements somewhat and. in Q shown the cam f lted to a collar 57 which is keyed to I the cam shaft 44. The cam57 has a lug 57 I the trip finger 102, when the lever 120 is m While I have shown and described certain embodiments of m invention, it is to be understood that it is modifications. Changes" therefore in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in the appended claims, in which it is my intention to claim all novelty inherent in my invention as broadly as possible in view of the prior art.

I claim: I

l. A machine for expandingfiliaed sheet metal blanks comprising a fra e, t o shafts journalled therein, means carried by said shafts for gripping the margins of said blanks, means for actuating said gripping means, and means for rotating said shafts to move said gripping means for expanding said blanks.

2. A machine for expanding slitted sheet metal blanks comprising a frame, two parallel shafts journallcd therein, means carried by said shafts for gripping the margins of said blanks, means for actuating means, and means for rotatsaid gripginlg mg said s a ts to .move said gripp ng means for expanding said blanks.

3. A machine for expanding slitted sheet metal blanks comprising a frame, two parallel shafts jonrnalled therein, lever arms carried by said shafts, means" thereon for gripping the margins of said. blanks, means for actuating said gripping means, and means for rotating said shafts to move said lever arms for expanding said blanks.

4. A machine for expanding corner bead blanks having a V-shaped cross-section and a central longitudinal bead, comprising means for gripping said central bead, means for gripping the margins of the corner bead, and means for increasing the distance between said gripping means for expanding said corner beads.

5. A machine for expanding corner bead blanks having a V-shaped cross-section and a central longitudinal bead,'means for feeding a corner bead blank to the 'machine, comprising means for gripping said central bead, means for gripping the margins of the corner bead, and means'for increasing the distance between-said gripping means for expanding said corner beads, said last named means being operable by the corner bead blank when it has reached a predetermined position in the machine. 6. A machine for expandingcorner bead blanks having a V-shapcd cross-section and a central longitudinal head, a frame, longn tudinal shafts journalled in said frame, ex-

pander arms secured to said shafts, means carried by said arms for gripping the margins of said blanks, means forgripping the central bead, and means for rocking. said shafts to move said e'xpanderiarms away from each other.

capable of many -ping means, a bead 7. A machine for expanding corner bead blanks having a V-sha ed cross-section and a central longitudinal ead, a frame, longitudinal shafts, journalled in said frame, expander arms secured to saidshafts, means on said arms for guiding the corner bead blank as it is inserted endwise, means carried by said arms for gripping the margins of said blanks, means for gripping the central bead, and means for rockingsaid shafts to move said expander arms away from each other. i

8. A machine for expanding corner bead blanks having a V-shaped cross-section and a central longitudinal head, a frame, longitudinal shafts journalled in said frame, expander arms secured to said shafts, means for feeding the corner bead blank into the machine, means carried by said arms for gripping the margins of said blanks, means for gripping the central bead, and means for rocking said shafts to move said expander arms away from each other.

9. A machine for expanding corner bead blanks having a V-shapedcross-section and a cent 'al longitudinal bead, a'frame, longitudinal shafts journalled in said frame, ex-

gins of said blanks, means for gripping the central bend} a cam shaft, andcams thereon for o erating 'said'shafts and means for expanding the blanks.

10. A machine for expanding corner bead blanks having a V-shaped cross-section and a central longitudinal head, a frame, longitudinal shafts journalled in said frame, expander arms secured to said shafts, means carried by said arms for gripping the margins of said corner beads, a cam shaft, cams thereon for operating said shafts and gripping means, a bead gripping means including a shaft, and a cam on the cam shaftfor operating said head gripping shaft.

11. A machine for expanding corner bead blanks having a V-shaped cross-section and a central longitudinal bead, a frame, longitudinal shafts journalled in said frame, expander arms secured .to said'shafts, means carried by said arms for grippin the margins of said corner heads, a cam s an, cams thereon for operating said shafts and grip gripping means includmg a shaft, a cam on the cam shaft for operating said head gripping shaft, and means for controlling said cam shaft including a trip operable by said blank-When it has reached a predetermined point in the machine.

12. A machine for expanding corner bead ion means for gripping said central beads, means associated with margins of said beads, means for forcing said arms away from the gripped central beads, and means for. releasing said margin gripping means after the expander A separated.

13. A machine for expanding corner beadblanks of V-shaped cross-section and having central longitudmal heads, said machine com-' prising two parallel expander shafts, expander arms thereon, guides on said arms for the longitudinal insertion of said blanks, means for gripping said central beads, means associated with said arms for gripping the margins of said beads, means for forcing said arms away from'the gri ped central beads, means for releasing sai margin gripping means after theexpanderarms have-expanded the blank a predetermined amount while said expander arms continue to move apart,

I said central gripping means releasing to drop the expanded lank between .the expander arms while they are separated, and a consald arms for grlpping the:

veyor beneath the expander arms for carrying away the expanded blank.

14. A machine for expanding slitted sheet metal blanks comprising a frame, two shafts journalled therein, means carried --by said shafts for gripping the margins of said blanks, means for actuating "said ripping means, means for rotating -said s afts to move said gripping means for expanding said blank, said gripping means releasing when the blanks areexpanded, and said expanding means moving further apart after the blank is expanded to permit the expanded blank to drop therebetween. v

15. A machine for expanding corner bead blanks having a V-shaped cross-section and central longitudinal beads, comprising means for gripping said central bead, means for gripping the margins of the corner beads, and means for increasing the distance between said gripping means for expanding said corner eads, said margin grippin means releasing-when the blank is expande while the gripping means continue to sepa-- rate to permit the expanded blank to drop therebetween. i a

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 13th day of Ma a 1924.

LEWIS CURTIS. 

